http://thechiclife.com/2014/02/healthy-hot-chocolate-clean-eats.html
When you think of the word "healthy" or "organic" in front of your favorite food, it kind of kills your vibe doesn't it? We don't want to think of our delicacies stripped away of fats or sugar, but in some cases it can actually taste better. I tried a healthy twist with this hot chocolate recipe and I am so glad that I did because it made me think differently about healthy foods.
I would definitely recommend this yummy drink because it is honestly one of the best things I have tried. I thought it would be weird because of the "raw sugar" that was listed as one of the ingredients but it was so good. Definite 10/10.
Sunday, November 22, 2015
goals in the winter (497)
During the winter, some may find themselves sitting inside not sure what to do except watch Netflix and eat. Our city of Cedar Rapids is looked upon as boring and that's why staying at home watching movies looks so appealing to us. If we look a little deeper and do a little research, though, there is so much to do in Cedar Rapids during the winter that you might not even have enough time to do all of it.
- Build a snowman. With the recent foot of snow that we have gotten, it is a perfect opportunity to make the best out of it. Grab a couple friends, even if it does sound lame, and go to the store t get what you need. You can customize it however you would like but make sure to warm up with some hot chocolate after you are done.
-Take a drive around the city and see what the people in Cedar Rapids have in store for Christmas lights. You can make this a 20 minute ordeal or stretch it out into a whole night and plan exactly where you would like to go. Plan a dinner before with some friends and have them tag along to experience it with you.
- Attend a city parade. Although this might look very unattractive due to the cold weather, it is actually very fun to see what the cities businesses are doing and what they have in store concerning floats and visuals. Also, it is a great way to connect with friends that you are close to or people that you only see once a year-just don't forget the mittens and hot chocolate to keep you warm during this cold night.
-Go ice skating! the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena is by Kingston stadium and the Kernals stadium down town. You can rent ice skates for super cheap and you don't even know how to skate. It is worth the money spent and I feel like everyone should try it even if they have little experience because it gets you moving while also having fun with your friends!
- Go sledding! Regarding the snow that we just got, I think it is appropriate to talk about going sledding. It might sound like a little kid activity but I assure you that you would be surprised at the amount of teenagers that still go today. Make sure to bring extra layers because it is almost guaranteed that you will be freezing, but walking up the hill will help warm you up. Also bring some snacks and some hot chocolate and make a full day out of it!
Whether you use some of these activities or not, make sure to get out as much as possible this winter because you don't want to end up a couch potato! There are endless things to do in the winter so if you don't find your niche in one of these, you will likely find it elsewhere.
- Build a snowman. With the recent foot of snow that we have gotten, it is a perfect opportunity to make the best out of it. Grab a couple friends, even if it does sound lame, and go to the store t get what you need. You can customize it however you would like but make sure to warm up with some hot chocolate after you are done.
-Take a drive around the city and see what the people in Cedar Rapids have in store for Christmas lights. You can make this a 20 minute ordeal or stretch it out into a whole night and plan exactly where you would like to go. Plan a dinner before with some friends and have them tag along to experience it with you.
- Attend a city parade. Although this might look very unattractive due to the cold weather, it is actually very fun to see what the cities businesses are doing and what they have in store concerning floats and visuals. Also, it is a great way to connect with friends that you are close to or people that you only see once a year-just don't forget the mittens and hot chocolate to keep you warm during this cold night.
-Go ice skating! the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena is by Kingston stadium and the Kernals stadium down town. You can rent ice skates for super cheap and you don't even know how to skate. It is worth the money spent and I feel like everyone should try it even if they have little experience because it gets you moving while also having fun with your friends!
- Go sledding! Regarding the snow that we just got, I think it is appropriate to talk about going sledding. It might sound like a little kid activity but I assure you that you would be surprised at the amount of teenagers that still go today. Make sure to bring extra layers because it is almost guaranteed that you will be freezing, but walking up the hill will help warm you up. Also bring some snacks and some hot chocolate and make a full day out of it!
Whether you use some of these activities or not, make sure to get out as much as possible this winter because you don't want to end up a couch potato! There are endless things to do in the winter so if you don't find your niche in one of these, you will likely find it elsewhere.
Cold (503)
As anyone in Cedar Rapids, Iowa right now can see, we are in a winter wonderland. Last week I didn't have to wear my winter coat to school, and on Saturday morning the whole state woke up with snow as far as the eye can see. With these sort of conditions, it is very important not to drive or travel due to ice on the roads. Also, as the weather grows colder, it is scary to see what can happen to our bodies.
If it is snowing or sleeting, it is very important to you or your passengers to keep off the roads or if travel is necessary, take it extra slow and allow for delays. Don't slam on your breaks as you will slide forward or spin out and put you, your passengers, and other drivers in danger of getting hurt. You should warm your car up ten minutes before you start your commute and make sure to scrap all of the ice or snow off of the windows for more visibility. For safety purpose, you should not multitask while driving in winter weather. No eating, texting, changing music, etc. because the road needs to be your main focus. Also, keeping items in your car to stay warm in case of an emergency is necessary also. If your car breaks down in the middle of the winter with below zero temperatures, you would want to have something to keep you warm. In my car I have two blankets, a flash light, extra food and water, a car phone charger, extra coats, hats, mittens, hand warmers, and many other things that would be necessary if I needed to keep warm. I believe that everyone should have these things with them through their travels due to the possibility of hypothermia or frost bite when the body gets too cold.
Another safety hazard to watch out for in the winter is the ice that you can slip on in a parking lot or on a side walk. Some places don't even look icy but are actually a broken bone waiting to happen. A good solution to this is to use salt or sand on the parking lot or side walk but that isn't going to cure the problem one hundred percent. It's really scary to walk during the winter due to the risk of falling on the ice, but there are specific ways to avoid problems like this one. On way could be to get shoes that have a higher friction to grip the ground to help you from falling. Higher fashions shoes like Uggs or heels are bad decisions when walking in the winter and should be avoided if you don't want to fall.
Keeping safe in the winter is a big deal in Iowa especially when you have long winters that seem to never want to go away. Winter can be nice and fun but it can also be very dangerous so when going out during the winter, make sure to stay safe.
If it is snowing or sleeting, it is very important to you or your passengers to keep off the roads or if travel is necessary, take it extra slow and allow for delays. Don't slam on your breaks as you will slide forward or spin out and put you, your passengers, and other drivers in danger of getting hurt. You should warm your car up ten minutes before you start your commute and make sure to scrap all of the ice or snow off of the windows for more visibility. For safety purpose, you should not multitask while driving in winter weather. No eating, texting, changing music, etc. because the road needs to be your main focus. Also, keeping items in your car to stay warm in case of an emergency is necessary also. If your car breaks down in the middle of the winter with below zero temperatures, you would want to have something to keep you warm. In my car I have two blankets, a flash light, extra food and water, a car phone charger, extra coats, hats, mittens, hand warmers, and many other things that would be necessary if I needed to keep warm. I believe that everyone should have these things with them through their travels due to the possibility of hypothermia or frost bite when the body gets too cold.
Another safety hazard to watch out for in the winter is the ice that you can slip on in a parking lot or on a side walk. Some places don't even look icy but are actually a broken bone waiting to happen. A good solution to this is to use salt or sand on the parking lot or side walk but that isn't going to cure the problem one hundred percent. It's really scary to walk during the winter due to the risk of falling on the ice, but there are specific ways to avoid problems like this one. On way could be to get shoes that have a higher friction to grip the ground to help you from falling. Higher fashions shoes like Uggs or heels are bad decisions when walking in the winter and should be avoided if you don't want to fall.
Keeping safe in the winter is a big deal in Iowa especially when you have long winters that seem to never want to go away. Winter can be nice and fun but it can also be very dangerous so when going out during the winter, make sure to stay safe.
Sunday, November 15, 2015
how to save a life
Hey guys this is a song from Grey's Anatomy because i am watching that and it made me think that my bloggers might want the same experience that i am having!
THE FRAY LYRICS
Step one, you say, "We need to talk."
He walks, you say, "Sit down. It's just a talk."
He smiles politely back at you
You stare politely right on through
Some sort of window to your right
As he goes left and you stay right
Between the lines of fear and blame
You begin to wonder why you came
Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
Let him know that you know best
'Cause after all you do know best
Try to slip past his defense
Without granting innocence
Lay down a list of what is wrong
The things you've told him all along
Pray to God, he hears you
And I pray to God, he hears you
And where did I go wrong? I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
As he begins to raise his voice
You lower yours and grant him one last choice
Drive until you lose the road
Or break with the ones you've followed
He will do one of two things
He will admit to everything
Or he'll say he's just not the same
And you'll begin to wonder why you came
Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
How to save a life
How to save a life
Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
He walks, you say, "Sit down. It's just a talk."
He smiles politely back at you
You stare politely right on through
Some sort of window to your right
As he goes left and you stay right
Between the lines of fear and blame
You begin to wonder why you came
Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
Let him know that you know best
'Cause after all you do know best
Try to slip past his defense
Without granting innocence
Lay down a list of what is wrong
The things you've told him all along
Pray to God, he hears you
And I pray to God, he hears you
And where did I go wrong? I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
As he begins to raise his voice
You lower yours and grant him one last choice
Drive until you lose the road
Or break with the ones you've followed
He will do one of two things
He will admit to everything
Or he'll say he's just not the same
And you'll begin to wonder why you came
Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
How to save a life
How to save a life
Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
How to save a life
How to save a life
How to save a life
How to save a life
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/fray/howtosavealife.html
The problem with disney princesses (592)
When we think of letting children watch Disney princess movies such as Cinderella or Aladdin, it's a no-brainer because of the reputation Disney has of innocence. In my AP seminar class at Kennedy, I have looked more in-depth on how the body images and messages of these movies are affecting the way children develop and i feel as though it is necessary to blog about.
When some of the first movies were made, it was during a time when females were thought of to be domesticated and to take care of men which was portrayed by all of the films of the era. Snow White showed her taking care of all the 7 dwarfs which shows how she needed to be domesticated to do so. The movies messages have changed over time corresponding with the era. Now we have movies being spit out such as Frozen which show girls that you don't need a prince charming due to the modern view on women. I love this message to little girls who look up to Ana and Elsa so that they don't think they need to serve a male.
Also, the body image that the princesses portray is crucial in taking in a count when deciding whether or not little girl's should be getting to view these movies. The Disney princesses are portrayed to have an unrealistic body consisting of an unnaturally small waist, large breasts, huge eyes, batting eyelashes, and dainty limbs. Literally every princess portrays this look and even the animals in these films. From this, children can take that you need to be pretty to be attractive and that is not something that i would want my future daughter learning. A study done by Milkie shows that little girls that watched these films knew that the bodies of these princess's were unreal, but that they still had a bad view of their own body. This is because of the attraction of males to the princesses and the little girls think that the body image of the princesses is the body criteria of which they should have to meet.
Another bad thing that these movies are teaching little girls is that appearance is all that you need and that everything else such as personality is all crap that nobody needs. A huge example of this is when Ariel in the Little Mermaid is cursed by the evil villain Ursula to be able to have feet. A part of the curse was to not be able to speak, so when she finally meets Prince Eric, she can't talk. This being, he is only attracted to her from her looks and not by anything that she could potentially tell him about herself, which is troubling to me. Also, in Beauty and The Beast, Gaston proclaims that Belle is the prettiest in the village which seems to us that he only wants her for her looks, another piece of evidence to my statement.
In conclusion, i am not bashing Disney movies because i love them and watch them on a weekly basis. I believe, though, that we need to implement classes to teach girls that beauty is not everything, because it is not. With girls in society today, we are given girls like Kylie Jenner who show us what we "should" look like at 18 filled with lip plumper and plastic surgery. It is honestly sad to me and we cant't change society, but we can give today's little girls a confidence booster so that they believe they are truely beautiful inside and out.
When some of the first movies were made, it was during a time when females were thought of to be domesticated and to take care of men which was portrayed by all of the films of the era. Snow White showed her taking care of all the 7 dwarfs which shows how she needed to be domesticated to do so. The movies messages have changed over time corresponding with the era. Now we have movies being spit out such as Frozen which show girls that you don't need a prince charming due to the modern view on women. I love this message to little girls who look up to Ana and Elsa so that they don't think they need to serve a male.
Also, the body image that the princesses portray is crucial in taking in a count when deciding whether or not little girl's should be getting to view these movies. The Disney princesses are portrayed to have an unrealistic body consisting of an unnaturally small waist, large breasts, huge eyes, batting eyelashes, and dainty limbs. Literally every princess portrays this look and even the animals in these films. From this, children can take that you need to be pretty to be attractive and that is not something that i would want my future daughter learning. A study done by Milkie shows that little girls that watched these films knew that the bodies of these princess's were unreal, but that they still had a bad view of their own body. This is because of the attraction of males to the princesses and the little girls think that the body image of the princesses is the body criteria of which they should have to meet.
Another bad thing that these movies are teaching little girls is that appearance is all that you need and that everything else such as personality is all crap that nobody needs. A huge example of this is when Ariel in the Little Mermaid is cursed by the evil villain Ursula to be able to have feet. A part of the curse was to not be able to speak, so when she finally meets Prince Eric, she can't talk. This being, he is only attracted to her from her looks and not by anything that she could potentially tell him about herself, which is troubling to me. Also, in Beauty and The Beast, Gaston proclaims that Belle is the prettiest in the village which seems to us that he only wants her for her looks, another piece of evidence to my statement.
In conclusion, i am not bashing Disney movies because i love them and watch them on a weekly basis. I believe, though, that we need to implement classes to teach girls that beauty is not everything, because it is not. With girls in society today, we are given girls like Kylie Jenner who show us what we "should" look like at 18 filled with lip plumper and plastic surgery. It is honestly sad to me and we cant't change society, but we can give today's little girls a confidence booster so that they believe they are truely beautiful inside and out.
Thursday, November 12, 2015
HOW TO HAVE A FUN FALL DAY (587)
It's that time of the year, people! The weather gets colder and ugly and people tend to want to start being homebodies. This is one of the leading factors, along with holiday treats, that makes humans belly fat expand during the colder months. But not for long! I have a few tips that can help to have the best fall day that will include, obviously, some healthy foods and activities! One might not think that the city of Cedar Rapids could be fun, but give it some thought and your day will be filled with numerous activities. Here are a few.
1. Start with breakfast at a cute little café or shop to support local. Also, in my opinion, it is better to have one of these breakfast's than just a McMuffin from your local McDonald's. Some of my favorite places are either Brewhemia in the NewBo district or the Blue Strawberry on 2nd street. They have authentic dishes and some of the best cinnamon rolls I have ever had. Also on their menu are very healthy options that include fresh fruits and vegetables to get you through your amazing day! While you are eating with your friends, make sure to put the phone down and enjoy their company.
Me and my friends.
2. Next take some time to visit some of our wonderful museums to check out the history of people who have lived here before us. My favorite one is the Art museum because of the beautiful paintings. If you are not very fond of art, there is a museum for everyone including the African American museum, the Czechoslovakian museum, or the masonic museum. Also it might sound boring, it is more fun than you think and every one should be interested in our history.
3. The Cedar Valley nature trail! Take a walk on this lovely trail that travels through the town of Cedar Rapids and extends on for miles! Make sure it is sunny or at least a good day because you sure don't want to get caught in the rain while you are on this trail. Take your dog or just walk with your friends for an amazing time and to make tons of memories to remember for a lifetime.
4. One of my favorite stops is also the library. When I have a bad day, all I do is get consumed in a book on the top of the roof there and everything is alright again! There are so many cool things to do there that even someone who isn't a book worm will get obsessed with the atmosphere and will keep coming back for more!
5. Go to Petland in Iowa City, Iowa. Although it is a little bit of a drive, it will brighten up your day so much. All of the animals there can be held and played with (except the fish, of course!). There are so many animals there that need a loving home that you might just fall in love with one while you are there.
6. At the end of the day, for dinner, I love NewBo. It opened a couple of years ago and has the best selection of fresh foods around. Anything from fresh fruit smoothies to fresh mozzarella pizza, there is something for every one! Although NewBo is only open a few days a week (Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday), it is a great selection for anybody in your group that day!
I hope you had a fun day with these tips!
1. Start with breakfast at a cute little café or shop to support local. Also, in my opinion, it is better to have one of these breakfast's than just a McMuffin from your local McDonald's. Some of my favorite places are either Brewhemia in the NewBo district or the Blue Strawberry on 2nd street. They have authentic dishes and some of the best cinnamon rolls I have ever had. Also on their menu are very healthy options that include fresh fruits and vegetables to get you through your amazing day! While you are eating with your friends, make sure to put the phone down and enjoy their company.
2. Next take some time to visit some of our wonderful museums to check out the history of people who have lived here before us. My favorite one is the Art museum because of the beautiful paintings. If you are not very fond of art, there is a museum for everyone including the African American museum, the Czechoslovakian museum, or the masonic museum. Also it might sound boring, it is more fun than you think and every one should be interested in our history.
3. The Cedar Valley nature trail! Take a walk on this lovely trail that travels through the town of Cedar Rapids and extends on for miles! Make sure it is sunny or at least a good day because you sure don't want to get caught in the rain while you are on this trail. Take your dog or just walk with your friends for an amazing time and to make tons of memories to remember for a lifetime.
4. One of my favorite stops is also the library. When I have a bad day, all I do is get consumed in a book on the top of the roof there and everything is alright again! There are so many cool things to do there that even someone who isn't a book worm will get obsessed with the atmosphere and will keep coming back for more!
5. Go to Petland in Iowa City, Iowa. Although it is a little bit of a drive, it will brighten up your day so much. All of the animals there can be held and played with (except the fish, of course!). There are so many animals there that need a loving home that you might just fall in love with one while you are there.
6. At the end of the day, for dinner, I love NewBo. It opened a couple of years ago and has the best selection of fresh foods around. Anything from fresh fruit smoothies to fresh mozzarella pizza, there is something for every one! Although NewBo is only open a few days a week (Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday), it is a great selection for anybody in your group that day!
I hope you had a fun day with these tips!
Sunday, November 8, 2015
Teens need more sleep! (591)
As a junior in high school, i have a lot going on during my day. I have two jobs, take 3 AP classes, and also am involved in extracurricular activities. I usually get home around 3:00 and usually have to go to work by 4:00 which gives me time at SMART lunch and just around 30 minutes after school to get a good majority of my school work done. But since i am overloaded with work, i end up staying up until 12am or 1am to get all of my school work done. Also, keep in mind that i have a zero hour class at 7:00 am which puts me at about 5 hours of sleep, if i am lucky. In my strong opinion, i believe high schools should be pushed back an hour on start time. Not only because of my situation, but because a lot of students at Kennedy and other high schools have schedules like mine leaving them with sleep deprivation.
At Kennedy, students are pushed and pushed to stay involved and to take as many AP classes to get them ready for college and beyond. With everything going on in a teenager's life, i feel as though it is only suitable for the start time for school to be pushed back so we can learn. An average teenager should be getting 8 hours of sleep every night and we just don't see the importance in that anymore. All we care about is keeping a perfect 4.0 GPA and staying involved because that is what we see in our minds as ideal. Not once do we stop to think about our mental and physical health if it will but our grades in jeopardy and i think that is ridiculous.
Although it seems impossible to start the school day earlier other schools have already taken action. Prairie High School starts at 9:00 instead of Kennedy's 7:55 and i think that is a very good idea for many reasons. Students get more sleep so they are ready to learn and their brains actually function. There are less tardies and absences due to sleeping in because of fatigue. Student's have time to do everything they need to do before and after school and they are less tired which makes for way better grades. In my eyes, i think this is a solution for a huge problem that we continuously keep having.
Scientifically, there are also many reasons for this new start time to take place. When you wake up, your brain is not fully functioning for a whole hour after. That means that when i wake up at 6:15 that i'm not even learning anything in my 0 hour which really scares me. Also, so many teenagers have a huge sleep debt that nobody should have even until they are adults. It takes 2 weeks to make up for 1 night of bad sleep so for me, it would take a life time.
I strongly believe that we need to put this in action to better the lives of students. Our absences and tardies would look way better and i guarantee our grades would look better as well. I know our district probably will not put this in action, but i think it is very necessary. Our brains are still developing and need to be taken care of, but it sucks that all we really care about is not letting our grades drop and not getting into the college that we want. Something needs to be done whether small or large.
At Kennedy, students are pushed and pushed to stay involved and to take as many AP classes to get them ready for college and beyond. With everything going on in a teenager's life, i feel as though it is only suitable for the start time for school to be pushed back so we can learn. An average teenager should be getting 8 hours of sleep every night and we just don't see the importance in that anymore. All we care about is keeping a perfect 4.0 GPA and staying involved because that is what we see in our minds as ideal. Not once do we stop to think about our mental and physical health if it will but our grades in jeopardy and i think that is ridiculous.
Although it seems impossible to start the school day earlier other schools have already taken action. Prairie High School starts at 9:00 instead of Kennedy's 7:55 and i think that is a very good idea for many reasons. Students get more sleep so they are ready to learn and their brains actually function. There are less tardies and absences due to sleeping in because of fatigue. Student's have time to do everything they need to do before and after school and they are less tired which makes for way better grades. In my eyes, i think this is a solution for a huge problem that we continuously keep having.
Scientifically, there are also many reasons for this new start time to take place. When you wake up, your brain is not fully functioning for a whole hour after. That means that when i wake up at 6:15 that i'm not even learning anything in my 0 hour which really scares me. Also, so many teenagers have a huge sleep debt that nobody should have even until they are adults. It takes 2 weeks to make up for 1 night of bad sleep so for me, it would take a life time.
I strongly believe that we need to put this in action to better the lives of students. Our absences and tardies would look way better and i guarantee our grades would look better as well. I know our district probably will not put this in action, but i think it is very necessary. Our brains are still developing and need to be taken care of, but it sucks that all we really care about is not letting our grades drop and not getting into the college that we want. Something needs to be done whether small or large.
Thursday, November 5, 2015
Play offs and state (341)
This fall year, Kennedy High school fall sports have taken off. Football is flourishing with their 11th win in a row and banking on their 12th this Friday against Washington. Volleyball was named conference champions for the first time in history and are set to play Cedar Falls at 2:00pm at the US Cellular Center on Tuesday. Swimming is having a rocking season as well! Tomorrow and Saturday they have state in Marshalltown and we should go support.
It is the first time in history when our sports are doing so well and we need to get our cougar spirit on! We get a half day on Tuesday to go watch the monkeys and i feel like we should use it and not abuse it. Also, we get another home game for football which is really nice because we are able to go on Friday!
When preparing for state it gets a little different. Madi Palmer took me on an inside look on how they kept their health up as they prepare. The monkeys practice every day after school until 5:30 or 6 pm. They are also keeping their social health up by having team bonding on Saturday followed by practice on Sunday. She says that her coach makes them stay hydrated all day so that they are ready for practice or a game. Madi shares her tip about taking a water bottle to school every day so she stays hydrated.
It is very important to stay hydrated during, before, and after a game. Also, being fueled up before a game is important as well as gaining electrolytes back after. Before her game, Madi either stops somewhere to get something to eat or goes to someone house to eat. After a game, she doesn't really eat until she gets home and it never is anything special. As for advice, she says that you should eat something healthy and not something like Pancheros. You should eat something close to the game but not to close or else it you might feel the urge to throw up.
ROLL COUGS!!!!!!!!!
It is the first time in history when our sports are doing so well and we need to get our cougar spirit on! We get a half day on Tuesday to go watch the monkeys and i feel like we should use it and not abuse it. Also, we get another home game for football which is really nice because we are able to go on Friday!
When preparing for state it gets a little different. Madi Palmer took me on an inside look on how they kept their health up as they prepare. The monkeys practice every day after school until 5:30 or 6 pm. They are also keeping their social health up by having team bonding on Saturday followed by practice on Sunday. She says that her coach makes them stay hydrated all day so that they are ready for practice or a game. Madi shares her tip about taking a water bottle to school every day so she stays hydrated.
It is very important to stay hydrated during, before, and after a game. Also, being fueled up before a game is important as well as gaining electrolytes back after. Before her game, Madi either stops somewhere to get something to eat or goes to someone house to eat. After a game, she doesn't really eat until she gets home and it never is anything special. As for advice, she says that you should eat something healthy and not something like Pancheros. You should eat something close to the game but not to close or else it you might feel the urge to throw up.
ROLL COUGS!!!!!!!!!
Sunday, November 1, 2015
Fall Fun (188)
During the fall months, you can pretty much find fun anywhere. The leaves are changing on almost every tree and just being outside makes you really happy. But unlike summer, you can't go to the beach or go swimming. So what can you do?
1. Go to an apple orchard. Wilson's apple orchard is located in Iowa City and is very inexpensive. You can go to pick apples yourself or even pumpkins. It's very kid friendly but is very fun for teenagers and parents, too.
2. Carve pumpkins. Whether you do the original faces or like to try a new design, this is fun for all ages. Also, when you're all done, find a recipe for the pumpkin seeds and make them. They are very good!
3. Go to a haunted house. A very good one is in Atkins. Although it is quite a drive, it is probably the best one I have ever been to. The haunted house is at Bloomsbury Farm and costs $20 dollars for regular admission or $35 for a VIP pass.
What ever you decide to do, you will have fun this fall.
1. Go to an apple orchard. Wilson's apple orchard is located in Iowa City and is very inexpensive. You can go to pick apples yourself or even pumpkins. It's very kid friendly but is very fun for teenagers and parents, too.
2. Carve pumpkins. Whether you do the original faces or like to try a new design, this is fun for all ages. Also, when you're all done, find a recipe for the pumpkin seeds and make them. They are very good!
3. Go to a haunted house. A very good one is in Atkins. Although it is quite a drive, it is probably the best one I have ever been to. The haunted house is at Bloomsbury Farm and costs $20 dollars for regular admission or $35 for a VIP pass.
What ever you decide to do, you will have fun this fall.
Flu shots(267)
Every year around this time, the school attendance goes down. Student's miss a ton of school and it ends up stressing both them and the teacher out. Getting the flu exhausts you mentally and physically and leaves you on bed rest for almost a week. With that amount of time off, it can make you more sick and that's not something anybody needs.
Around our town, there are things that seem to persuade us to get a flu shot. Such as getting money of in gas from a Hy-Vee fuel saver if you get one. Also, you can get it free with your insurance or a small co pay. At my mom's job, she has to get a flu shot because she is a doctor so she can't be contagious to her patients.
In my opinion, I feel like everyone should get a flu shot. If it is required, school attendance will go up, sickness will go down, and no school work will have to be made up. Although this is sort of a hassle for some people, it's better than missing ton's of school and having to take the time to make it up.
I also think that It should be extremely suggested if not required because I am really not trying to get sick this winter. I hate when people come to school sick because you're contagious and I really don't want you around me. This can really be avoided if you just get a flu shot and then you don't have to be sick and you won't get me sick. A win win situation.
Around our town, there are things that seem to persuade us to get a flu shot. Such as getting money of in gas from a Hy-Vee fuel saver if you get one. Also, you can get it free with your insurance or a small co pay. At my mom's job, she has to get a flu shot because she is a doctor so she can't be contagious to her patients.
In my opinion, I feel like everyone should get a flu shot. If it is required, school attendance will go up, sickness will go down, and no school work will have to be made up. Although this is sort of a hassle for some people, it's better than missing ton's of school and having to take the time to make it up.
I also think that It should be extremely suggested if not required because I am really not trying to get sick this winter. I hate when people come to school sick because you're contagious and I really don't want you around me. This can really be avoided if you just get a flu shot and then you don't have to be sick and you won't get me sick. A win win situation.
A world we can't imagine
As American’s, living in a hot, polluted, and trash filled
place is almost unheard of to us. If it gets too hot, we turn on the air
conditioning. If our house or neighborhood gets trashed with garbage, we put it
in a trash can to be picked up once a week. But what if we didn’t have these
luxuries? What if we didn’t have electricity or running water? Would we go crazy
because we are so addicted to our phones? Would be grow sick because our bodies
are not immune to the different diseases of an undeveloped and overpopulated
country?
My
friend, Monique Fitzpatrick, experienced this way of living for a week. She
visited Haiti on a volunteer trip with her Aunt and lived without anything she
has here. When she first got there, it was hard to get used to. She had no
phone service, electricity, running water, or air conditioning. Some of the
things we teenagers couldn’t even imagine living without. She explained that it
was hard to get used to, but she soon did and it was an eye opener.
While
Monique was in Haiti, she lived in a compound called Petit Groave. Each room
had four sets of bunk beds, no running water, and despite the heat, not even a
ceiling fan. Also, all of the houses around her looked the exact same. She
observed that everywhere she looked, there was trash. Trash on the streets,
trash in the city, and trash even in her compound. The trash simply had nowhere
to go, and since they don’t have a landfill or anything like we do, it just
stays on the street and hopes to be ignored.
Monique
also did volunteer work and made close friendships with some of the orphans
where we volunteered. One little girl that she remembers so well was a three
year old named Kristina. Kristina went to school with her siblings, despite her
age, and would always come to sit on Monique’s lap when she visited. To cheer
up the children, Monique and her group brought the children stickers. Although
a small gift, it didn’t fail to put a huge smile on each of their faces. Also,
Monique and her group did volunteer work at a church. They built bricks from
hand and put them all together to build a new stairwell for the church. Some of
the other group’s responsibilities were building new walls for a couple’s house
and building a new foundation for an orphanage.
At the
end of the trip, Monique was happy to go home, but it was also bittersweet for
her. Seeing people having nothing and still being happy made her realize that
she doesn’t need much to be happy. People in Haiti were so happy despite being
in poverty and despite living without everything and we say we “Need”. I feel
like we can learn a lesson from people from Haiti and that it is a very
important lesson.
I feel
like we are so addicted to the luxuries that we have, that we don’t step back
for just a minute to realize that we are starting to love things instead of
people. We are also more worried about when our phones are broke, but don’t
blink an eye when the problem of global warming gets brought up. We feel as
though we need more shopping malls, factories, and strip malls, but we don’t
realize that to make these things they cut down trees that give us oxygen to be
alive. What will it take for us to realize that all we need is little to be
happy?
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